Seat adjusting device



1937. A. T. POTTER I SEAT ADJUSTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 4, 193 4 ATTORNEYS.

15 Another object of the invention is to provide a shoulders 22 and 23 on the upwardly struck 15 30 Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale 21 in engagement with the end portions 54 and I 30 I 45 adjusted position. the fact that the latter have rolling contact both 45 50 eter adapted to rollalong the base of the channel der the upper plate member 27 and is pivotally 50 Patented Oct. 19, 1937 2,096,437

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE SEAT ADJUSTING DEVICE Albert T. Potter, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Ainsworth Manufacturing Corporation, a corporation of Michigan Application January 4, 1934, Serial No. 705,185

11 Claims. (Cl. 155-14) The invention relates to motor vehicles or the flanges 20 and 2| at each end of the channel and, like and it has particular relation to a mechanism as shown by Fig. 3 particularly, the upper edges for controlling the position of one of the seats of each of these flanges has shoulders 22 and 23 therein and particularly the seat provided for the at opposite ends thereof respectively. The

5 driver of the vehicle. 5 flanges are so located that they coincide with the 5 In certain respects the invention is related to grooves I! and I8 in the rollers I3 and the height my application for patent relating to Seat control of each flange between the projections 22 and 23 mechanism, Serial No. 647,317, filed December 15, is such that the grooved portions of the rollers 1932, which matured into Patent No. 2,006,149 substantially contact with the upper edges of the 10 issued January 25,1935. flanges between the shoulders 22 and 23 while 10 One object of the invention is to provide a simthe latter constitutes limiting stops for the rollers. ple and inexpensive seat control device which One of the rollers I3 is provided at each end of may be installed very easily and which operates the channel and is mounted for movement longivery smoothly during adjustment of the seat. tudinally of the channel the distance between the seat adjusting device including rolling supporting flanges and 2|. For securing the channel I2 elements, which is more stable for the purpose of to the floor II, front and rear bolts 25 may be holding the seat in adjustable position and which used as will readily be appreciated. provides an improved rolling support therefor. The device also includes an upper plate mem- 20 Other objects of the invention will become apber 21 having downwardly turned edge flanges 28 20 parent from the following description, the drawand 29 which terminate in legs 30 and 3| adapted ing relating thereto and from the claims hereinto engage the end portions I4 and I5 of the rollafter set forth. ers. For holding the parts assembled, the legs For a better understanding of the invention of the channel I2 are turned inwardly as indi- 25 reference may be had to the drawing, wherein: cated at 32 and 33 and into engagement with the 25 ure 1 is a fragmentary view showing a movlegs 30 and 3I and the flanges 28 and 29. Prefable automobile seat and a seat adjusting device erably, the turned-in edge portions 32 of the Con ucted CO d E to one form of the inven channel I2 serve as resilient means for contion. stantly maintaining the legs 30 and 3! of the plate take Subst y along he ne 2 of Fig. 1. of the rollers while still permitting an easy move- Fig. 3 is an elevational View of the construction ment of the rollers relative to both the channel shown by Fig. 2 with parts broken away for the I2 and the plate member 21. Each of the legs purpose of illustrating certain details. 30 and 3| has longitudinally spaced, downwardly 35 Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale projecting lips 35 and 36 and it will be observed 35 taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. in Fig. 3 that when the upper plate member 21 is Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale moved rearwardly the front lip 35 finally will entaken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. gage the front roller and will limit further Referring to Fig. 1, the seat is indicated at I5, movement of the upper plate member, while the and the floor of the automobile is indicated at I I. rear lip 36 serves the same purpose in connection 40 The seat is mounted for movement forwardly and with the rear roller when the upper plate memrearwardly and the invention is particularly conber is moved forwardly. Movement of the upper cerned with a device for movably supporting the plate member will approximately be twice the seat for adjustably locking the seat in the desired longitudinal movement of the rollers owing to Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, for example, the with the base of the channel I2 and with the up- ,device includes a lower sheet metal channel I2 per plate member. having a plurality of rollers I3 therein, each of For adjustably locking the seat in position, an which has end portions I4 and I5 of larger diamoperating arm 31 is provided which extends unat opposite sides thereof. The roller also has an mounted on a threaded, tubular element 33 that intermediate a d Smaller portion I6 which is is rigidly fastened to the plate member 21. In spaced from the portions I4 and I5 by annular this connection it may be noted that the internal grooves I'Iand I8. The base portion of the chanthreads of the tubular element 38 are adapted to nel I2 has laterally spaced, upwardly struck engage a bolt 39 by means of which the seat is 55 secured to the upper plate member at the forward end of the latter. Similar securing means are provided at the rear end of the upper plate member for securing the seat thereto although inthis case no pivoted arm is pivoted. The arm 31 tapers rearwardly and at its rear end terminates in a projection 49 which is movable through an opening 'll provided in the flange 29 at the right side of the plate member 21. The projection 40 on the operating arm is adapted to co-operate.

' posed, the seat and upper plate member may be moved longitudinally and then, upon release of the arm 37, the projection 40 may be again moved into a coinciding notch. For the purpose of nor mally holding the arm such position that the projection fill is urged into. engagement with one of the notches, a spring 34 is provided which presses against the edge of the arm and which is coiled around a pin mounted on a downwardly struck portion 46 of the upper plate member. It will be noted that at the forward edge of the downwardly struck portion it, a space is provided to permit the spring to project to the under side of the plate and intoengagement with the arm. Also in this connection it Will be noted that the extreme rear end of the operating arm projects above the portion 46 and that the latter serves as a support or guide for the arm during its movement. The spring at the opposite side of the pinly elongated slot 53 may be employed preferably in the operating arm so that one arm may have slight movement without moving the other arm. One of the operating arms has a handlei l so that it may be manually manipulated at the front side of the seat. It is possible in awdual. arrangement of thischaracter that the projection 40 on one operating arm will coincide with one of the notches 22 While the projection on the other operating arm will be slightly out of coinciding relation with a notch and in this event it is apparent that the slightly elongated opening 53" will permit the one projection to move into engagement with the notch even though the projection on the other operating arm cannot move intoengagement with one of the notches. Ordinarily, this will not occur but in the event'it does it has been found that the projection on the one arm which is not exactly in coinciding relation to the notch will shortly coincide with the notch owing to slight movement of 'the seat so that ultimately both projections engage notches.

The adjusting device described can be manu factured very inexpensively from sheet metal as will be readily understood. By providing the dual type of roller in each of the channels l2, it is apparent that a more stable arrangement is provided which insures greater seat stability and furthermore the seat will be supported by greater roller contact spread over a greater lateral distance andthis naturally will enable obtaining a the portions 32 and 33 to lock them in position.

After the parts are assembled it is apparent that they cannot be sepa'ratedby longitudinal moveers will be prevented fromundesirable lateral movement by the flanges 20 and 2! and the latter Will additionally serve to limit movement of the a V rollers and consequently movement of the upper plate member. The device provides a very simple, efiicient and inexpensive seat c'ontrolling'mechanism which may be readily installed. 7

Although only one form of theinvention'has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be. made Without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination .with seat and supporting members, of a channel'member adapted to besecured to one member, laterally spaced roller means engaging the base of the channel, a plate member having laterally opposed edge portions opposite the channel base, and means on the legs of the channel extending over the lateral edges engaging the roller means at the sides thereof of the plate member for normally holding the K parts assembled.

2. A seat controlling device for movably mounting a seat member 'ona supporting member'comprising a channel member adapted to be secured to one member, roller means within and engaging lateral edge portions of the channel base, a plate member adapted to be secured to the other' mem- 1 her and having flanges at the'lateral sides thereof engaging the sides of said roller means'op'posite the sides engaged by said channel base and means on the legs of the channel adapted to overlie the,

flanges on saidplate member to retain the same in assembled relation with said channel member.

3. A seat controllinggdevice comprising a channel, rollers in the channel for movement along. the; base thereof, a plate member engaging the means on the'legs of the channel and extending over edges of the plate: member for holding the.

side of the rollers opposite the channel base; 7

latter in positioman'arm pivoted onthe' under side of the plate member for pivotal'movement r I in a plane transversely of but substantially parallel to the plate member, and means on the arm anda leg of thechannel for'adjustably locking the plate member and channel inlongitudinally adjustable positions.

4. A seat controlling device comprising a channel, rollers in thechannel for movement along the a base thereof, a plate member engaging the side of the rollers opposite thechannel base,, means on the .legsof the channel and extending over edges.

of the plate member for holding the latterv in po-;

sition, an arm pivoted on the 'under side of-the plate member for pivotal movement in a plane transversely of but substantially parallel to the plate member, and means on the arm and a leg of the channel for adjustably locking the plate member and channel in longitudinally adjustable positions, said means including, a projection onment'owing to the provision of the lips 35 and 35 and it is of course apparent that lateral separation is prevented by interengaging portions of the. channel and. the upper plate member. The rollmembers, of a channel adapted to be secured to the arm and notches on the channel leg for selectively engaging the projection.

5. Aseat controlling device for movably mounting a seat member on a supporting member comprising a channel adapted tobe secured to one member, a roller within and engaging the channel base, said roller having laterally spaced grooves intermediate its ends, inwardly struck flanges projecting from the channel base and cooperating with the grooves for positioning the roller laterallyduring movement thereof, and a plate member adapted to be secured to the other member and movable on the roller at the side thereof opposite the channel base.

6.,The combinationwith seat and supporting members, of a channel adapted to be secured to one member, laterally spaced roller means engaging the base of the channel member, a plateat the opposite side of the rollers and having downwardly turned legs resting on the rollers, and. 'means on the legs of the channel and on the plate for holding them assembled while still allowing longitudinal and relative movement thereof.

7. The combination with seat and supporting members, of a channel adapted to be secured to one member, laterally spaced roller means engaging the base of the channel member, a plate at the opposite side of the rollers and having downwardly turned legs terminating in laterally directed flange portions resting on the rollers, and means on the legs of the channel and cooperating with such flanges for holding the parts assembled While still allowing longitudinal and relative movement thereof.

8.,The combination with seat and supporting one member, laterally'spaced roller means engaging the base of the channel member, a plate at the opposite side of the rollers and having downwardly turned legs resting on the rollers, and means on the legs of the channel and on the plate for holding them assembled and substantially preventing relative lateral movement of the channel and plate while still allowing relative and longitudinal movement thereof.

9. In an adjustable seat support, a pair of channel members arranged in telescoping relation, one of said channels having inturned flanges overlying outturned flanges on the other channel, and rollers disposed between the outturned flanges of one of the channels and the base of the other channel to provide for friction-free relative longitudinal movement of said channels.

10. In an adjustable seat support, a pair of channel members arranged in telescoping relation, one of said channels having inturned flanges and the other having outturned flanges, said inturned flanges of the one channel overlying the outturned flanges of the other channel rollers disposed between the outturned flanges of one of said channels and the base of the other, and means carried by one of said channels for locking said channel members in predetermined longitudinal position.

11. In an adjustable seat support, a pair of channel members arranged in telescoping relation, one of said channel members having inturned flanges, the other having outturned flanges, the inturned flanges of one channel overlying the outturned flanges of the other, rollers disposed. between said channels bearing against the outturned flanges of one and the base of the other, notches in the side wall of one of said channels and means carried by the other of said channels adapted to engage one of said notches to lock said channels in predetermined longitudinal position.

ALBERT T. POTTER, 

